Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The 2010 N.C. high school outdoor track season was another record-breaking season all over the state. Some of the states’ best athletes and teams could be found right here in the Lake Norman News area.

The Hopewell (I-Meck) and East Lincoln (Southern Piedmont) boys’ track teams again dominated the track, winning conference titles. The Mustangs also added their second consecutive 2A Western Regional title to their resume. The Titans were nearly as impressive finishing 3rd in the 4A West Regional and 5th overall in the state meet in Greensboro.

On the girls’ side, East Lincoln rolled through their conference winning the league meet by 166 points. The Mustangs also finished fourth in the region and 17th at the state meet.

Hopewell was the most consistent girls’ squad from the I-Meck in regional and state competition, finishing 15th in both meets.

Boys Player of the Year: Anthony Bynum, Hopewell –Anthony Bynum has always been fast. But this year, the Hopewell sprinter was even more speedy as he established himself as one of the state’s top runners.

Bynum not only won the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the 4A West Regional, but also finished second in the 200 and fourth in the 100 at the state meet.

Bynum also helped anchor both the 4 X 200-meter relay team that finished second in the state meet, narrowly losing to Vance.

The most exciting part is that Bynum, a junior, has another year as a Titan to get even faster.

Boys Coach of the Year: Lonnie Custer, East Lincoln -Lonnie Custer is used to winning and winning often. In the last five seasons, his East Lincoln boys’ track team has won the Southern Piedmont conference and Lincoln County championships every year.

This year, Custer led the Mustangs to their second consecutive 2A West Regional title as well.

East Lincoln, who has a second and third place finish at states in the last five years, did not excel as state this time around, placing 27th overall.

All Lake Norman News Boys Track Team

100-meter dash: Grant Nowell, Hopewell…nearly just as fast as his teammate Anthony Bynum.

Girls Player of the Year: Briana Brazile, North Mecklenburg –Briana Brazile can run and jump with the best of them in North Carolina. This month, she showed just how good and how versatile she can be placing in the top 8 of four different events at both the 4A regional and state track meets.

Brazile dominated the 4A West regional meet first winning the 300-meter hurdles, finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles and the 4 X 200 relay race. The North Meck senior led her team to a 3rd-place finish in the 4 X 400 relay.

At states, Brazile continued to impress finishing 4th in the 300 hurdles, 6th in the 100 hurdles, 7th in the 4 X 200 and 8th in the 4 X 400 relay.

Girls Coach of the Year: Lawrence Lawson, North Mecklenburg –The North Meck track team is used to being amongst the top program’s in the state. Second-year coach Lawrence Lawson is keeping them there. Lawson, whose team competed in their first-year in the I-Meck conference, finished third in his own conference, but still managed to guide the Vikings to 8th-place finish at the Western Regionals and 19th overall at states

All Lake Norman News Girls Track Team

100-meter dash: Kiandra Long, East Lincoln…basketball star has major speed on track.